Salvatore DiMasi

Of the 15 newly elected Democratic state representatives, a solid majority did not attend Robert DeLeo's dinner last Thursday in Worcester.

And not all of the newly elected lawmakers at the dinner have committed to supporting DeLeo to become the next Speaker of the House in the event that Salvatore DiMasi steps down.

The Worcester Telegram and Gazette reported last week that DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat, held a dinner last week with about 70 lawmakers in Worcester that would support him to become speaker. The Telegram and Gazette noted that one of DeLeo's supporters was confident that DeLeo would become the next speaker because of his efforts to garner support from newly elected state representatives.

But a survey of 14 of the 15 newly elected state representatives (one was unreachable on deadline) revealed a limited amount of support for DeLeo. Four of the 14 said they attended the dinner, and only three of those said they would back DeLeo if DiMasi steps down.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said late Monday that he is open to considering new ethics proposals drafted by Gov. Deval Patrick and other legislators.

"The governor, legislative leaders of both parties and individual lawmakers are discussing thoughtful proposals to reform our ethics laws and, while Massachusetts already has among the toughest standards in the nation, any necessary changes proposed by these groups will be fully considered," DiMasi, a Boston Democrat, said in a statement.

The Speaker was responding a proposed ethics rule change submitted by state Reps. Martin Walsh (D-Dorchester) and John Quinn (D-Dartmouth). The proposal calls for a six-year term limit on House Speaker, public hearings of the House Ethics Committees and stiffer penalties for illegal lobbying.

State Rep. Robert DeLeo, who has been corralling support to become the next House Speaker, ate dinner with about 70 supporters in Worcester Thursday night, the Worcester Telegram and Gazette reports.

DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been lining up support in the event that House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi steps down from his post. DiMasi has said he intends to run for another term but that hasn't kept DeLeo and House Majority Leader John Rogers, of Norwood, from jockeying to be his successor.

DeLeo told the Telegram and Gazette that "at least 70" of his backers were at the dinner and that he is "comfortable" with the number of backers he has compared to Rogers. To become speaker, DeLeo would need 81 votes.

The saga surrounding whether Salvatore DiMasi will face a challenge for his speakership in January continues, as the Boston Globe reports that state Reps. Robert DeLeo and John Rogers are trying to figure out if they have enough support to take on DiMasi.

But the Globe also notes that based on several interviews with lawmakers Wednesday, it appears DiMasi currently has enough backers to retain his post.

All of this speculation comes as DiMasi's, a Boston Democrat, has the state Ethics Commission investigation looking into whether a software company unlawfully sought influence in awarding a state contract by making payments to his associates.

The Massachusetts Republican Party needs serious change, Republican Party Chair candidate Jennifer Nassour said Monday. Nassour, of Charlestown, is challenging current Republican Chair Peter Torkildsen for his job.

In an interview with PolitickerMA.com, Nassour said she is tired of Republicans in Massachusetts getting walked on by Democrats and the numerous scandals on Beacon Hill.  

"Someone needs to be out there calling for [House Speaker] Salvatore DiMasi's resignation," she said. "There is so much scandal surrounding Beacon Hill right now and there is no one out there saying this is disgusting."

Former Gov. Mitt Romney is doing plenty of campaigning for Republican presidential nominee John McCain and other GOP candidates, leading some to question whether 2012 is on his mind as McCain lags in polls.

The Globe is reporting that House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi isn't cooperating with the state Ethics Commission's demand for documents.

Some of state Sen. Dianne Wilkrson's backers are still backing her re-election bid even though she ended her campaign.

But Wilkerson is encouraging those supporters to focus their efforts on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

State Rep. Dan Bosley criticized the Boston Globe's recent coverage of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi in remarks on a blog Wednesday.

Bosley, a North Adams Democrat, left a comment on the Massachusetts Liberal blog in response to a post on the Globe's coverage of DiMasi's reluctance to convene a special session to consider the parts of Gov. Deval Patrick's budget cuts that require legislative approval.

Bosley's office confirmed that the comment was left by the legislator.

Below is the beginning of Bosley's statement, which also refers to the Globe's coverage of DiMasi's relationship with Richard Vitale. The Globe reported Tuesday that Vitale's business dealings are now being investigated by the attorney general.

Check out the full statement after the jump.

Don't fall victim to the innuendo of the Boston Globe. Yesterday they reported that "sources" said that a grand jury was convened to look into this issue. Today, they report the grand jury formation without the caveat that sources have said this without on the record confirmation. This falls into a familiar pattern that we have seen lately concerning the Speaker and this paper.

Today, "sources" said that the House may not come back because of the leadership jockeying. The only sources that was named for the record denied this allegation, but that didn't stop the story from its negative direction. Tomorrow the Globe will "report" this as fact.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston): Politicker Photo

 State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's campaign responded on Wednesday to charges that her campaign website still listed endorsements she has lost since Sonia Chang-Diaz beat her in the Democratic primary, saying the website was only for the primary and pointing to a new general election website.

The old website also no longer works.

On Monday, Hillary Chabot of the Boston Herald noted that Wilkerson's campaign website, www.DianneDelivers2008.com, still listed endorsements from Gov. Deval Patrick, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and state Senate President Therese Murray even though they are now backing Chang-Diaz.

In a statement made to PolitickerMA.com, Jeff Ross, a spokesman for Wilkerson, said that website was only used for the primary.

"There was an old web site that was the prior web-site. We have a new web site focused on information relevant and necessary leading up to Nov. 4, 2008 in our write in sticker campaign," Ross said.

State Rep. Tom Conroy's rematch this year against Susan Pope, who he beat to take the seat in 2006, appears to hinge on which legislator has best represented Middlesex County's 13th District.

State Rep. Tom Conroy (D-Wayland)And that's exactly how both candidates want it.

"From my perspective it's effectiveness," Conroy, a Wayland Democrat, told PolitickerMA.com when asked what the most important issue in the race is. "I've been able to accomplish a lot in the two short years I've served. State aid has increased dramatically, 15 percent or nearly $2 million, which far outpaces the amount of state aid my predecessor and opponent was able to take in the past five years."

Pope, a Wayland Republican, held the seat for 10 years and said she got into the race because several in the district told her that Conroy hasn't served their interests as well as she did.